Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to issue subpoenas to the Biden family in order to significantly intensify their investigation into their foreign dealings.
Hunter Biden and James Biden, the president’s brother, as well as Rob Walker, a Biden family member, have been called to testify before the oversight committee that is leading the impeachment inquiry into Biden.
The committee has asked Hunter Biden to appear on December 13th and James Biden on December 6th.
Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that the president’s son would comply with the subpoena. He called it a “political stunt” but said, “Nevertheless. “Hunter is eager to have the opportunity to discuss these matters with the committee in a public forum and at the right time.”
Committee Chairman James Comer is also requesting transcribed interviews with Melissa Cohen, Hunter’s wife, Sara Biden, Frank’s wife, Hallie Biden, Hunter’s ex-girlfriend, and Beau Biden’s widow Elizabeth Secundy, Hallie’s sister, with whom Hunter is believed to have a romantic relationship had during her marriage to Hunter and Tony Bobulinski.
Comer says he traced about $24 million from foreign actors to the bank accounts of the Biden family and his associates. By issuing subpoenas for bank records, the Republican-led committee says it found 20 shell companies tied to the Biden family, most of which were founded when Joe was vice president. The money was traced to foreign actors in China, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Kazakhstan.
Hunter Biden faces a subpoena to testify before Congress and Melissa Cohen, his wife (right), is asked for an interview
James Biden (left) was summoned. His wife Sara was invited for an interview
Comer says the shell companies were used to provide a complicated route for payments that didn’t raise any alarm bells.
White House spokesman Ian Sams scoffed at the new subpoenas, accusing Republicans of “distracting” them – citing the Nov. 17 government funding deadline.
“With just over a week until House Republicans could once again plunge the country into a damaging and chaotic government shutdown, the most extreme voices in their party like James Comer are seeking to distract from their repeated government failures.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not respond to a called question from about whether Hunter and James should comply with the subpoenas.
Top Oversight Democrat Jamie Raskin noted that the committee has already obtained business records from Hunter, James and Rob Walker and interviewed many of his business partners.
“Comer decided he needed a big batch of subpoenas and interview requests, all to private citizens, to jump-start this epic flop of an investigation,” Raskin said.
“Despite all of the Chairman’s impressive acrobatic efforts to hide evidence and somersault against the facts, all of the extensive information collected discredits her false claims about President Biden.”
Comer recently called a picture of a $200,000 check that James Biden sent to his brother Joe Biden “smoking gun,” but the check was marked as a loan repayment.
Weeks ago, Comer revealed a $40,000 direct payment to Joe in 2017, described as a “loan repayment,” which he said was “laundered money” traceable to the Chinese.
Bank records seen by show that Joe James loaned the exact amount he was paid – $240,000 – before being paid back by his brother.
The documents show that Joe James made two short-term loans to Biden – one for $40,000 on July 28, 2017 and another for $200,000 on January 12, 2018.
The loans were repaid in full and interest-free by James Biden within 37 and 48 days respectively.
Hallie Biden, Hunter’s ex and Beau Biden’s widow, was invited for an interview
Hunter and Hallie Biden were together between 2016 and 2019
But Comer claimed that bank records the committee obtained through recent subpoenas for James and Hunter Biden’s financial records showed a trail of money snaking its way into Joe’s account starting in July 2017 from Chinese oil giant CEFC – one of Hunter’s joint ventures.
In August 2017 WhatsApp messages previously published by , Hunter demanded $10 million from CEFC, claiming his father was “sitting here next to him” during the exchange.
After initially investing $5 million in the joint venture from CEFC on August 8, 2017, a transfer of $400,000 was made to Hunter Biden’s Owasco, PC on the same day. Then on August 14, 2017, $150,000 was transferred directly from Owasco to the bank account of James and Sara Biden – Joe’s sister-in-law.
Then, on September 3, 2017, Sara wrote a check for $40,000 directly to Joe — just six days after she withdrew $50,000 in cash, according to documents obtained.
Joe Biden has previously stated that Hunter never made money from China, and the White House has maintained that the president never benefited from his family’s business ventures.